If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
—John 13:14
“Ye also ought to wash one another’s feet” are words that we want to fully understand. The form of a servant in which we see Him, the cleansing that was the objective of that service, the love that was its motivation—these are the three main thoughts.
First, let us look at the form of a servant. All was ready for the Last Supper, down to the water to wash the feet of the guests. But there was no slave to do the work. None of the Twelve thought of humbling himself. At once, Jesus rose, girded Himself with a towel, and began to wash their feet. Angels gazed with wonder! Christ, the Creator of the universe, chose the slave’s place, took the soiled feet in His holy hands, and washed them.
In taking the form of a servant, Jesus proclaims the law of rank in the church of Christ. The higher one wishes to stand in grace, the more one must find his joy in being the servant of all. “He that is greatest among you shall be your servant” (Matthew 23:11). The higher I rise in the consciousness of being like Christ the deeper I will stoop to serve all around me.
The foot washing speaks of a double work—for the cleansing of the body, and for the saving of the soul. The follower of Jesus may not lose sight of this when commanded, “Ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.” Remembering that what is external is the gate to the inner spiritual life, he makes the salvation of the soul the first object in his ministry of love.
The spirit that will enable one to live such a life of loving service can be learned from Jesus alone. “Having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end” (John 13:1). Love never speaks of sacrifice. To bless the loved one, however unworthy, love willingly gives up all. It was love that made Jesus a servant. It is love that will make the servant’s work such blessedness to us that we will persevere in it at all costs.
Live every day as the beloved of the Lord, in the experience that His love washes, cleanses, bears, and blesses you all the day long. His love flowing into you will flow out again from you, and make it your greatest joy to follow His example in washing the feet of others.